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Sweet toothed smokers could pay for proposed tax reform

Published 24.02.09   14:46 

Duties on luxury goods and unhealthy foods could rise as part of a government overhaul of the taxation system The government announced it wants to increase charges on tobacco, candy and saturated fats as part of its tax reform Under...

The government announced it wants to increase charges on tobacco, candy and saturated fats as part of its tax reform

Under the planned tax reforms the government has announced increased duties on cigarettes, candy and ice cream in a bid to help us live healthier.

The increased duties are expected to fatten the state coffers by an extra 1.45 billion kroner.

The duty will be raised by 3 kroner for a pack of 20 cigarettes, while rolled tobacco will be levied by 120 kroner per kilogram.

Ice cream, candy and chocolate will see a duty increase of 25 percent, while saturated fats in dairy products and oils will be levied at 20 kroner per kilo.

Health Minister Jacob Axel Nielsen welcomed the move and hoped it would help curb the prevalence of lifestyle illnesses like heart disease and diabetes, which can be caused by over consumption of sugars and fat.

Nielsen stressed that the level of smoking among Danes must also be reduced, with almost a fourth of all deaths annually linked to smoking.

‘The increased prices will help people to quit smoking, and most importantly help young people to make the right decision never to being smoking to start with.’

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The Copenhagen Post